Usually, using power tools is something I try to avoid whenever possible, but during my latest Dells Bucket List adventure not only did I find myself wielding a chainsaw, I realized that it can be rather fun as well.
Interview with wood carver - Dave Watson
For more than two decades Dave Watson has been carving wood sculptures with a chainsaw on his forty acre property in the Wisconsin Dells that he calls Watson Woods. Most notable for his of whimsical bears, Dave uses his creative talents to take plain wooden stumps and turn them into a large variety of functional works of art. Dave and his wife Annette were kind enough to invite me into their home recently where they shared incite to what brought them to the Dells, how Dave got into the craft of wood sculpturing, and what his average day of carving entails.
DELLS BUCKET LIST #13 - Going behind-the-scenes of the BRAT HOUSE GRILL
The tradition of eating bratwurst while drinking a beer has been an appetizing combination for almost a century. While this combo can be consumed in many Wisconsin bars and restaurants, having the opportunity to do so in a one hundred and sixty-two year old former church that some say is haunted most likely can only take place at Lake Delton’s Brat House Grill.
Interview with The Brat House owner - Steve Haupt & General Manager Ted Kaminski
For the last five years The Brat House has been serving a large selection of locally made custom brats, along with a full menu of other tasty items ranging burgers and steaks, to soups, salads and specialty sandwiches.
Owner Steve Haupt, along with chef and general manager Ted Kaminski were kind enough to spend some time recently telling me about their delicious food, the unique history of the area’s oldest public accessible building, and how The Brat House came to be a favorite to both locals and tourists alike.
Owner Steve Haupt, along with chef and general manager Ted Kaminski were kind enough to spend some time recently telling me about their delicious food, the unique history of the area’s oldest public accessible building, and how The Brat House came to be a favorite to both locals and tourists alike.
DELLS BUCKET LIST #12 - Going behind-the-scenes of MOOSEJAW PIZZA & DELLS BREWING COMPANY
Sampling a variety of different beers before breakfast is not something I do often since my college years, but being I recently got to go behind-the-scenes of Moosejaw Pizza and Dells Brewing Company for my latest Dells Bucket List adventure, I wasn’t about to let the opportunity to partake freshly brewed beer in the morning slip away.
Interview with Moosejaw Pizza & Dells Brewing Co. brewmaster - Jamie Baertsch
For the past decade Moosejaw Pizza and Brewery has been the home to the Dells only microbrewery. Serving ten different styles of hand-crafted beer at all times, keeping both visitors and locals alike coming back often for the chance to drink beer that is extremely fresh.
Jamie Baertsch, who holds the title as the “Only Female Brewmaster in Wisconsin,” is the one to bring Moosejaw’s beer to fruition, and was gracious to spend a few hours showing me the process of brewing, as well as letting me sample some of her delicious liquid wares.
Jamie Baertsch, who holds the title as the “Only Female Brewmaster in Wisconsin,” is the one to bring Moosejaw’s beer to fruition, and was gracious to spend a few hours showing me the process of brewing, as well as letting me sample some of her delicious liquid wares.
DELLS BUCKET LIST #11 - Going behind-the-scenes of TOMMY BARTLETT EXPLORATORY
Interview with Sr. V.P. & Director of Operations for Tommy Bartlett Explorartory - Mark Schilling
Mark Schilling has worked for Tommy Bartlett, Inc. for over forty years. Starting off parking cars and operating the snack bar for the famous ski show, Mark is now vice president and director of operations for the Tommy Bartlett Exploratory - but will still pitch a hand in doing his originally duties whenever needed. Almost kid-like in his joy of working at a place that is filled with wonder, Mark was gracious to spend a couple hours giving me a tour of the facilities and impart some entertaining stories, as well as some of its long history.
DELLS BUCKET LIST #10 - Going behind-the-scenes of DENNY'S DINER
Eating a meal next to a telephone booth that has a Superman mannequin inside, or with a life-sized gorilla riding a motorbike hanging above you from the ceiling, is not something you’ll get to experience at your average everyday restaurant. Luckily, if you want to eat breakfast or lunch while getting some fun sensory stimuli, you’ll find that the Lake Delton mainstay Denny’s Diner is the perfect place to visit - as it is anything but average.
Interview with Denny's Diner owner & son - Molly Van Schoyck and Chad Van Schoyck
Visitors and locals alike know and love the one-of-a-kind restaurant in Lake Delton that's called Denny's Diner. Owned for over thirty years by Dennis and Molly Van Schoyck, what started off as a simple deli has transformed over the years into a diner that now houses an eclectic collection of items ranging from the nostalgic and historical, to the silly and absurd. Recently I had the pleasure to sit down with Molly and her son Chad to learn about the history of the diner, as well as how the unique décor came to be.
DELLS BUCKET LIST #9 - Going behind-the-scenes of RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
Holding someone’s head in the palm of my hand, especially one detached from their body and shrunken down to the size of a coconut, is something I know I’ll never forget.
This admittedly freaky occurrence took place recently during my behind-the-scenes tour of downtown’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not! “Odditorium,” where getting to hold a few of their authentic shrunken heads was one of the many highlights.
This admittedly freaky occurrence took place recently during my behind-the-scenes tour of downtown’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not! “Odditorium,” where getting to hold a few of their authentic shrunken heads was one of the many highlights.
DELLS BUCKET LIST #8 - Going behind-the-scenes of WIZARD QUEST
They’re aren’t too many afternoons when one can say they experienced what it’s like to be inside the middle of a tornado, swam through a tunnel of plastic balls, and ate popcorn that tastes like beer, but all these out of the ordinary occurrences took place during my latest Dells Bucket List adventure - when I visited the 4D Special F/X Theater, Wizard Quest, and Oodlesmack Gourmet Popcorn.
Interview with Concept Attractions, Inc. President Kevin Ricks and General Manager Jim Gehrke
Spending a couple hours recently interviewing the minds behind Concept Attractions, Inc. was an entertaining, as well as highly educational experience that truly was inspiring. Kevin, along with his wife Corena Ricks, are owners of the successful downtown Wisconsin Dells businesses: Wizard Quest, Ripley's Believe It or Not, Dells 4D Theater, The Point, along with the recently opened Oodlesmack Popcorn shop, all of which are helped managed by Jim and Kelly Jo Gehrke. I’d like to thank both Kevin and Jim for taking time to share their behind-the-scenes stories and knowledge.
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